Rat in the Garden

[Orangepip]

2 minutes ago, Pettytom said:

You could try an ultrasonic repeller. You’ll need a bit of dry weather and an electrical supply into your back garden to use it.

 

I’ve used them before in my cellar and they’ve got rid of mice and rats. I’m not sure how well they will work outdoors though.

Thanks worth a try

[alchresearch]

Once the food source disappears it should go away.  

[PRESLEY]

21 hours ago, Orangepip said:

I can't kill it, no matter how much I would rather not have it and want it to leave..

 

 

 

 

Get a cat. There you go sorted! 

[tinfoilhat]

7 hours ago, alchresearch said:

Once the food source disappears it should go away.  

If it's the section of canal in killamarsh that's still filled in and fished, the rats will come from there and return there, because there is ample food from discarded fishing bait. 

 

If it's the "empty" bit, theyre probably coming from elsewhere. Do you have bird feeders out?

 

EDIT - you've taken them down. 

Edited May 10, 2019 by tinfoilhat

[Dozer]

On 10/05/2019 at 17:14, PRESLEY said:

Get a cat. There you go sorted! 

If you had our cats, they would grab it, bring it inside, and then release it unharmed. Everyone happy.

[lil-minx92]

On 09/05/2019 at 19:06, Mossway said:

Get a trap. Either a conventional spring trap which looks like a very large mouse trap, or a cage trap.

If you buy a spring trap you must put it in a sort of tunnel so that pets and birds can’t  trigger the trap. If you buy a cage trap you’ll need a largish container of water to dunk the trap in and drown the rat.

Do not touch it with your bare hands. 

Bit sadistic. Surely cage traps exist for people who don want to kill unwanted visitors...

[Robin-H]

On 09/05/2019 at 19:06, Mossway said:

Get a trap. Either a conventional spring trap which looks like a very large mouse trap, or a cage trap.

If you buy a spring trap you must put it in a sort of tunnel so that pets and birds can’t  trigger the trap. If you buy a cage trap you’ll need a largish container of water to dunk the trap in and drown the rat.

Do not touch it with your bare hands. 

No. That would be illegal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It is illegal to cause unnecessary suffering to animals. That includes drowning rats. 

[Mossway]

33 minutes ago, Robin-H said:

No. That would be illegal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It is illegal to cause unnecessary suffering to animals. That includes drowning rats. 

Only applies in the 2006 Act to ‘protected’ animals. If it were a pet rat you are probably correct, however the OP appeared to be referring to a wild rat and so not covered by the Act.

[lil-minx92]

The humane treatment of life should have no regard to categories invented by humans

[Robin-H]

1 hour ago, Mossway said:

Only applies in the 2006 Act to ‘protected’ animals. If it were a pet rat you are probably correct, however the OP appeared to be referring to a wild rat and so not covered by the Act.

That is not true. The welfare of captured rodents is covered by the Act (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/notes/contents) As the Act states, the welfare offence (Section 9) applies to animals for which a person is “responsible” as that word is to be understood under section 3. Trapped rats are covered by this. 

54 minutes ago, lil-minx92 said:

The humane treatment of life should have no regard to categories invented by humans

Don't worry, it doesn't. The welfare part of the act applies to all animals, not just 'protected' animals.